The shadow Tory financial secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Tyrie, has come up with what Guido thinks is the best policy ever and it could form part of the Tories’ general election manifesto. The plan is to cut MPs by a fifth saving taxpayers £25 million a year. Its a start…

It would see 550 MPs elected rather than the current 659. It would chime with Tory plans for “small government” that include massive cuts to civil service numbers. Tyrie said the move would save £15m a year in pay and allowances and a further £10m in the cost of Commons administration. What do they all do? The retiring Tony Banks reckons that nowadays MP are basically like jumped up social workers dealing with constituents bureaucratic problems.

In a paper to be published this week, Mr Tyrie says: “The public do not want to pay more for politicians. They prefer to see a reduction in [MP numbers]… Politicians should find a way to arrest the growth in the cost of democratic politics. The best place to start – and the best signal for politicians to send – would be for the Commons to prune itself.”

Tyrie reckons the Boundary Commission should be charged with reducing the number of constituencies. No put me in charge, bring me a few barrels of gunpowder, I’ll show ’em pruning!

He said the plan would be a vote winner, but warned it would face obstacles in the form of party and personal interest. So what? Too many careerist creeps anyway! When have people ever said “We need more politicians?” Never! The most dreaded phrase in the world is “We’re from the government, we’re here to help…” Get me some bloody gunpowder Tyrie.